Hiroo Area Guide

After the Meiji Restoration the Imperial family and nobility who took up residences from prominent samurai families established the feel of the area as an upper-class residential area. Since the end of the Edo period many foreign embassies have been built around the Hiroo area for geographical reasons, and together this has established today’s mixture of high class and international atmosphere.

Because the embassies of many countries were concentrated in this area for a long time, embassy staff and their families have started to live and many other foreigners have followed; hence many English speaking shops for daily necessities and other services have gathered in this area and they have established a convenience of living for all the foreign residences.

A number of trendy coffee shops and restaurants are found in the Hiroo area. While it is a convenient area located next to commercial districts including Roppongi, Azabujuban, Ebisu, and Omotesando and the business districts such as Roppongi Hills, it retains a quiet and peaceful atmosphere with rich greenery.

Besides the large condominium apartments including Hiroo Garden Hills and Hiroo Garden Forest, there are many luxurious residences such as spacious low-rise apartments and detached houses geared toward foreign expats.

Arisugawa Park, a large public park in Minami-Azabu serves as an oasis in the city where everyone can enjoy peace. Nishimachi International School, Sacred Heart International School, and many international preschools, National Azabu Super Market where you can find a variety of international groceries, English bilingual hospitals (Aiiku Hospital and Japan Red Cross Medical Center) are also located here.

International school buses for the American School, Seisen & St. Mary's, Tokyo International School, etc. cover this area as well.

Wards(Ku) Hiroo is located

Minato-ku

It is a center of business activities where many headquarters gather. Many foreign corporations and embassies are found in this area. In addition, there are many foreign residents; which makes this area quite international. The commercial and entertainment districts such as Roppongi, Azabu-Juban and Odaiba are also popular.

Multiple train lines intersect around Shibuya Station. The fashionable and trendy shopping areas such as Daikanyama, Eibisu, Shibuya and Omotesando are developed around Shibuya Station. You can also find rich greenery in this area thanks to Yoyogi Park and Shinjuku Gyoen Garden. The luxurious residential areas such as Hiroo, Shoto and Yoyogi-Uehara are also found here.